Every Team Is Beatable

While the teams we expected to win round 4 of the 2026 Women's Rugby Six Nation did in fact dominate the scoreline, the losing squads didn't take it lying down. In fact, they proved that even the best still have weaknesses. And on the same weekend the internationals were playing with something to prove, so were the Brookline Warriors, the high school team I coach.

Going up against a team that has bested you in the past, that is on the stat sheet better than you, is such a mental battle. From the jump teams will enter the game on the back foot. Playing frantic, as if they are waiting for the beating to come. But this weekend we saw the underdogs performing under that pressure. It wasn't enough to pull out the victory, but it was enough to earn bonus points and expose some of the best teams in the league.

How do you prepare a team to face a squad that is on paper set to win?

• Find what has been successful against them in the past and replicate it. Do some research! What have other teams done to score? To disrupt their attack? This gives the losing team a chance to put the favorites on the defensive for a change.

• Avoid the areas they will dominate. Are they scrum specialists? Opt for kicks to touch or quick taps off penalties. Are their backs dangerous in open space? Hard launch from the outside. Don't give them the chance to do what they're best at.

What matters most though, is that the entire team is clear on the game plan. They all need to know: if X then Y. Strategically, coaches need to adjust the game plan and target the oppositions weak points as much as they can. Mentally, players need to believe they can compete.

The last round of the tourney is tomorrow, and I'm most excited to see how France does against England. If anyone can stop their win streak, it's them.

Chat next week,

Jenni